Pakistani protesters reach parliament as police look on

Wednesday, August 20, 2014 - 01:16

Protesters in Pakistan's capital use a crane and bolt cutters to force their way past a barricade of shipping containers around parliament, as they call for the prime minister to resign. Vanessa Johnston reports.

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Tens of thousands of protesters march on parliament in Pakistan's capital Tuesday, calling for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to resign.
Using a crane and bolt cutters, they try to force their way past a barricade of shipping containers and barbed wire...
Which the police and paramilitaries had used to seal the so-called "Red Zone" -- home to parliament and many Western embassies.
The protests are being led by former international cricketer Imran Khan, head of the country's third-largest political party....
As well as Tahir ul-Qadri, who controls a network of Islamic schools and charities.
They're accusing Sharif of corruption and rigging last year's polls.
Police were instructed to try to avoid violence, and did not intervene as protesters removed the first layer of the barricade.
Khan and ul-Qadri -- who hold differing views -- had been holding separate protest rallies in Islamabad since Friday.
But supporters of both men came together for Tuesday's march.

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